Notes & quotes: Midland College got back into a tie for first place with Odessa College in the WJCAC standings and also clinched a regional tournament berth for the 19th consecutive season with a win against Frank Phillips College.... The Lady Chaparrals got off to a somewhat slow start against the Lady Plainsmen, trailing 34-32 at the half, before a strong second half helped them pull away. MC was led by Meghan Braeuer with 16 points, Catherine Kruschke had 12 and Achire Ade had her 17th double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds.... The Lady Chaps lost 6-foot-3 freshman Femke Vaandrager for the season during Wednesday's practice with a torn ACL in her left knee. Vaandrager was averaging 3.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game and leaves MC with 10 available players. "It hurts defensively and rebounding as well as depth," MC coach Ron Jones said. "More than anything, we're disappointed for her. But every team has to go through this sometimes. It's just one of those things."... The Lady Westerners dropped their second straight game with a blowout loss to South Plains on Thursday and now sit in last place in the WJCAC standings.... WTC gave MC a hard time in the Jan. 21 meeting in Snyder before the Lady Chaps pulled away for a 52-45 victory.... Jones said the Lady Westerners tend to play hard the entire game but added that with three games remaining in the regular season schedule, he said it's important for his team to work on improving things to get ready for regionals. "We're just trying to eliminate negative or poor possessions both offensively and defensively," Jones said. "We just need to keep working on the little things to get that accomplished."... WTC is led by 5-7 sophomore G Breanna Burton, who averages 12.4 ppg, while 5-10 sophomore G Brianna Sifford chips in with 11.2 ppg.

Notes & quotes: Midland College broke a two-game skid on Thursday with its win at Frank Phillips College. MC coach Chris Craig said he thought the effort from his team was "just OK" and added that the Chaps still have work to do to become the team it wants to be. "We're getting near the end of February and we can't be making the same mistakes," Craig said. "Other teams in our league are peaking and playing some of their best basketball, and it's time we do the same."... Against the Plainsmen, the Chaparrals were led by Justin Coleman with a game-high 25 points and 12 rebounds, Brandon Lucas had 15 points, Corey Hilliard scored 11 and both Ede Egharevba and Aly Ahmed added 10 points.... Western Texas is coming off a big upset home win over South Plains College on Thursday that snapped a four-game losing streak. Craig said he wasn't too surprised by the Westerners' win. " I think they've been more than capable all year long, but they've had some things go against them," Craig said. "They rebound the ball really well, they have size, they haven't been shooting the ball great but neither have we. It could be one of those games where people might start wondering when each team is going to be able to score."... The Westerners have three players averaging double figures, led by 6-2 freshman G Ronnel Jordan with 11.9 ppg, 6-7 freshman F Devonta Walker is averaging 11.4 ppg, while 6-1 freshman G Justin Roberson adds 10 ppg.... MC won the first meeting between the two teams, 59-36, on Jan. 21.

Next: Midland College at New Mexico Military Institute, 7:30 p.m. (CST) Thursday; Howard College at Western Texas, 7:45 p.m. Thursday